Electric push-button switch.



J. BRUNNER. ELECTRIC PUSH BUTTON SWITCH.

APP'LIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 191 1. I

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

'f/rw/zzrx J Ljas fi $210706?" UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOSEPH BRUNNER, OF OELENBURG, NEAR iDUTTERIBAGE, GERMANY.-

ELECTRIC PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Application filed September 11, 1911. Serial No. 648,611.

- To all whom it may concern:

Push-Button Switches, of which the follow-' ing is a specification.

The invention relates to an electric switch,

the object of the improvement being to pro.- vide a switch adapted for use in either damp or dry places.

The improvement consists in providing two independent insulated receptacles filled with mercury with which a contact element cooperates in the operation of the switch.

The invention also relates to the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front view of my improved switch. Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsection of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the switch, the

cover being removed. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line .4-4 of Fig. 3.

The switch comprises a casing a made of insulated material and divided by a partition we into two independentefcompartments d. The partition m is provided with two openings in which two push buttons 0 cperate, the upper button having a notch 15 in its upper surface. Pivotally mounted in a cavity in rear of the partition m is a lever p the ends of which are disposedin the path of movement of the push buttons 0.

The upper front portion of the partitionm is formed witl1,'a'dep.ression g in which is mountedaVU-shaped contact piece Z, the legs of which operate in the compartments d. Extending from the central portion of the U-shape contact piece Z is a lug r disposed above the upper ushjiutton 0 and designed to cooperate wit a pin .9 extending from said I button.

A cover a is screwed to the casing a and on said cover are two PIO]Ct10I1S f each formed with a vertical opening through which the wires pass. These openings register with openings 6 in the casing, which communicate with the compartments d-d.

From the sides of the casing a project ears 5 by means of which the device may be conveniently fastened in position, while to the rear of the casing is an insulating plate M.

In operation, the mercury is poured into the compartments cZcZ with which the ter minals of wires contact. 1101 is poured over the mercury to extinguish sparks which may occur when operating the switch. Assume now the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, and it'be desired to operate the switch to throw in the current. The lower but-ton 0 is forced in and it contacts with the lower end of the pivoted lever p and rocks the same. The rocking of this lever forces the upper but ton out which carries with it the pin When the pin '8 reaches a point beyond the center of the U-shape contactpiece Z, the latter will rock and the legs will dip in the mercury, and the lug 9" will drop into the notch t- \Vhen the legs of the U-shaTpe contactpiecedip in the mercury, a circuit will be formed. Now to cut off the current, the upper button 0 is pushed in and in so doing the front wall of the notch t contacts with the lug r and starts to lift it and then the pin 8 engages the under surface of said lug, and in the continued movement of the but ton the contact piece Z is elevated, and consequently its legs are withdrawn from the. mercury and the circuit is broken. Of course while this operation is taking place the lower pin 0 is being reset. By this constructipn described I have provided a simple and economical switch which is in no way dependent upon springs or the like to insure of the operation.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a casing of insulating material formed with two separated compartments which receive men cury, a cover on said casing, terminals on said cover for securing the terminals of line wires, a rocking contact piece having end projections which operate in the compart ments, means includlng two buttons and a pivoted element between said buttons and a device between one of said buttons and the rocking contact piece for operating said contact piece whereby to raise or lower the ends of the latter to make or break a circuit.

2. An electric switch comprising an insulating casing having two .separated compartments which contain mercury, a rocking Kerosene or alco- 3 contact piece mounted in the casingand vcrsely move same when one or the other is -a button having a notch and a pin, said button is forced inwardly in the casing the operated, and a pin on oneof the buttons, :iki pin cooperating with the lug on the contact piece to control theniovenient oi the latter when the buttons are operated.

:5. An electric switch comprising an insu lating casing formed with two separated compartments which receive mercury, 21 contact piece mounted to move in the casing, the ends of the contact piece being in the compartments, a lug on the contact piece,

notchland said pin coiiperating with the lug to control the movement of the contact piece, a second push button, and a pivoted lever between the two buttons, whereby when one other will be forced outwardly.

t. An electric switch comprising a casing provided with. two separated compartmenta; which receive mercury, a substantially U-f [Ionics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

Washington, I). 0.

the lug and adapted to coEi-perate with the same to control the movement of the contact piece when said push button is operated, a second push button in the casing, and a piv oted lever between the two push buttons, whereby when one of said buttons is forced inwardly the other will be forced outwardly.

In testimony whereof Thave l'iereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH BRUNNER.

lVitnesses GEORGE Grrronn,

r ARNOLD .dinnsn.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

